Bolton Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce has handed midfielder Kevin Nolan the captain's armband permanently.
Nolan has scored seven goals this season from midfield, including the winners in the past three matches.
Wanderers were third before the weekend's games kicked off and the 23-year-old former England under-21 player has expressed hopes that his own form and the good season his club are enjoying could give him a chance to play for the senior side.
Manager Sam Allardyce did insist though that Nigerian playmaker Jay Jay Okocha still has a future at the Reebok Stadium.
Allardyce broke the news of the development following a meeting with the two players at the training ground.
"Kevin has coped admirably with the role over the past month during Jay-Jay's absence," said the Bolton boss, who takes his squad to Birmingham on Monday.
"He has got the right qualities to be a great leader of the team.
"Kevin is very experienced for someone so young and, above all else, he has the respect of the whole squad."
Okocha has been linked with a move to Qatar after being hampered by injuries in recent months.
But Allardyce stressed: "Jay-Jay's future is not in jeopardy at this club.
"He has been a fantastic captain during one our most successful periods.
"I have had a mature discussion with Jay-Jay about relinquishing his role as captain, so he can concentrate on recapturing the form that made him one of the most prodigious talents in the Premiership.
"He is committed to Bolton for the rest of this campaign, and with an option on his contract at the end of the season. We will sit down and discuss his future at the earliest opportunity."
Allardyce added: "I would like to thank him for being my eyes and ears on the pitch - he played a vital role in the past two and a half years, as captain.
"He will continue to offer his massive experience and expertise to Kevin (Nolan) and the rest of the squad."